Parents' Guide to

The Weather Man

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Bleak comedy-drama for adults only.

Movie R 2005 101 minutes
The Weather Man Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

camris
camris Parent of 3 and 8-year-old
January 28, 2010
age 17+

Worst Movie I've EVER Seen

I was absolutely appalled while watching this movie. I coudn't believe Nicholas Cage would agree to be in such a BAD movie!!! The only reason I kept watching was because I was hoping it might get better as it went along; but no luck! It went straight in the trash can afterward!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THE WEATHER MAN focuses Chicago weather man Dave Spritz (Nicolas Cage), who sees a possible job opportunity on a NYC morning show as an opportunity to reunite with his ex-wife Noreen (Hope Davis), though she has a new boyfriend, Russ (Michael Rispoli). Dave also struggles to appease his two kids who feel abandoned by their father and act out in various ways. Son Mike hopes that his counselor will provide the support and approval he seeks, but the man has other ideas (he tries to seduce Mike, awkwardly and disturbingly). Dave also can't win over his slightly overweight daughter who has turned her insecurity into a surly front. Dave's general inability to pay attention results from his relationship with his own father (Michael Caine), who disdains him and is now dying. Unable to cope, Dave continues to look for attention from others, even though his minor celebrity also brings him grief.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

The Weather Man is a bleak and oddly paced drama-comedy about mid-life crisis. "People recognize me sometimes," Dave observes in his mournful voiceover. "They think they know me but they don't." The film's investigation of this phenomenon doesn't extend much beyond this moment, though it does underline the abuses Dave endures because of it.

One running gag that becomes tired after the first instance has viewers tossing fast food items at him -- shakes, French fries, little pies -- apparently out of rage that he gets the forecast wrong. "It's just wind," he says more than once, by way of explaining his inaccuracy. "It blows all over the place." The movie makes this point repeatedly, casting Dave as a buffeted sort. That he finds a sense of purpose and precision in archery -- so he walks around the city with his bow and arrows -- seems a heavy-handed metaphor.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the divorced father's misguided efforts to reunite with his family. How does Dave's own father's illness prompt him to reconcile with his wife and children? What might he do to pay more attention to what they need from him? How might Shelly's parents help her to deal more effectively with the kids' taunting at school?

Movie Details

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